The Avengers: Infinity War will become the country’s biggest ever film shoot

Edinburgh will grab the lion’s share of a £10m boost to the city’s economy as the Marvel gang including Robert Downey Jr (Iron Man), Chris Evans (Captain America), Chris Hemsworth (Thor) and Scarlett Johansson (Black Widow) are scheduled to arrive for filming in the coming month.

Rounding out the A-listers will be Jeremy Renner (Hawkeye), Mark Ruffalo (the Hulk) and Samuel L Jackson (Nicky Fury). Inverness-born Karen Gillan’s Nebula character from Guardians of the Galaxy will cross-over into the Marvel Avengers franchise for the first time.

The film’s first unit has already begun filming in Edinburgh where the capital city will be featured in a modern setting on screen and not “dressed up” to duplicate another place, as Brad Pitt’s World War Z did when filming Glasgow for Philadelphia in 2011.

The six-week shoot will also feature locations in the Highlands as well as utilising the Wardpark Studios in Cumbernauld, recently vacated by Sony’s television drama Outlander, which has relocated to South Africa for a fourth season adventure which switches the action from Scotland to the Caribbean.

Film Edinburgh announced its involvement in the Avengers picture yesterday but is under a strict Non Disclosure Order as the director brothers James and Anthony Russo, famed for their work on Captain America, and their crew of 400 begin production.

When Edinburgh came up as a location option we jumped at the chance

Director Joe Russo

Preparation work already underway in the city includes a fake kebab shop, a 40ft green screen was built near Edinburgh Waverley station's Calton Road entrance and fake tourist boards reading 'Welcome to Scotland'.

Stars including Robert Downey Jr, Chris Hemsworth and Scarlett Johansson will arrive in April

Infinity War: Part 1 will release on May 4, 2018. Part 2 will follow on May 3, 2019.

The two films will cover the war against Thanos, which Marvel teased in the post-credits sequence of The Avengers.

But it is believed that some of the Avengers may have gone into hiding there following a Civil War.

PR

Stars including Robert Downey Jr, Chris Hemsworth and Scarlett Johansson will arrive in April

Avengers Infinity War and the sequel will see the superhero group join forces with Guardians of the Galaxy to battle Thanos.

Director Joe Russo commented: “When Edinburgh came up as a location option we jumped at the chance. The city is such a unique and iconic location, but one never seen as the backdrop for a big action film, which is incredibly exciting.”